Many are looking to increases in innovative technology as a good sign that our roads are getting safer or will be soon. However, one recent study has showed that the opposite may be true. Read on to get the details. If you have been involved in a car accident, whether it involved technology or not, please reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free consultation.
The main issue is a misunderstanding of what safety technology can and cannot do
A recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety looked at drivers’ reliance on collision avoidance systems and additional safety features. It found that drivers may be using these technologies to become complacent, which can put them and others in danger.
One of the most startling statistics they uncovered is the fact that 80% of drivers do not know that their blind-spot monitoring system has a very limited ability to see vehicles that are approaching quickly, as well as fast-moving bikes and pedestrians. 20% of people say they trust their blind-spot monitoring feature so much that they do not do anything else to check for oncoming vehicles when they go to change lanes.
Another startling example is that nearly 30% of drivers who have adaptive cruise control say that they think it is okay to engage in other activities if their cruise control is on. If nearly one-third of people are willing to take their eyes off the road when just their speed is being controlled, this brings into question whether they can safely use semi-autonomous vehicles that require less input but do require drivers to keep at least a partial eye on the road.
The study also revealed that many drivers do not understand how their safety features function. More than 40% could not tell the difference between their automatic emergency brake and their forward-collision warning. This is startling but there is good news: If it is simply a matter of a lack of education, then dealers, car-rental companies, and car manufacturers can make a big difference by educating their customers. Likewise, we would like to see advertising for these safety features be more honest about their limitations.
If you have been involved in an accident then you should get a free legal consultation
If you have been involved in a vehicle accident and have suffered injuries, then it is worth it to contact a personal injury attorney. You can easily reach Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas by contacting us at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will go over the basics to let you know what your options likely are.
If we believe you have a case and decide to take it, then we will do so on a contingency basis. This means that you do not owe us a penny upfront and will not have to pay anything unless we win your case. Call today to get started.
